Spain has fined some low-cost airlines operating on national territory 150 million euros. This is the highest fine ever imposed by Madrid. The reason? The alleged violation of consumer rights due to the fact that airlines made travelers pay for hand luggage they brought on board the plane. A practice that is now completely prohibited, although some companies continue to adopt it.

The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs (Ministerio de sanidad, consume y bienestar social), in detail, sanctioned the Irish Ryanair, the Spanish Volotea and Vueling, and the British easyJet. The fine arrived in recent days following a complaint presented in 2018 by the Spanish association Facua - Consumidores en Acción. Although the 150 million Euros is a considerable amount, it represents just 5% of the profits of these companies.

Consumer rights advocates explained that it is not just hand baggage fees that are being condemned, but also other abusive practices that these low-cost airlines have regularly practiced in recent years. Already in 2022, a ruling from a Madrid court ruled against Ryanair, speaking of an unfair practice.

In 2023 the Ministry of Consumer Affairs launched an investigation, now sanctioning the airlines for the illicit benefits obtained to date. These are the four prohibited practices: charging passengers for carrying bags or backpacks on board the plane, charging for choosing seats, preventing the use of cash at the airport, resulting in a lack of transparency on the final price of the flight.